The defect
CERTAIN MY 2004 AND 2005 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2004 AND AUGUST 26, 2005. THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLT MAY NOT BE CORRECTLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE BOLT, ALLOWING JOINT SEPARATION AND LOSS OF STEERING.
The risk
SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING WITHOUT WARNING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
ALL THOMAS BUILT AND FREIGHTLINER DEALERS AND DIRECT WARRANTY CUSTOMERS WERE CALLED ON AUGUST 26, 2005, AND NOTIFIED NOT TO DRIVE THESE BUSES UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED. THE REMEDY PROCEDURE CALLS FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE STEERING PINCH BOLTS FOR THE PRESENCE OF TORQUE SEAL. BOLTS WITHOUT TORQUE SEAL WILL BE TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND TORQUE SEAL ADDED. FOLLOW UP NOTIFICATION BY MAIL BEGAN AUGUST 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 | 2004, 2005 |
Components: STEERING:COLUMN
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 | 2004 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 | 2005 | 0 | 4 |
Other steering recalls in 2005
47 of the 562 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2005 concerned the steering; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 05V574000 30 Dec 2005 | MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 05V540000 30 Nov 2005 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 05V543000 29 Nov 2005 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 05V541000 22 Nov 2005 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 05V507000 3 Nov 2005 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 05V496000 1 Nov 2005 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 05V455000 5 Oct 2005 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 05V408000 13 Sept 2005 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2005